The UFC has not held an event in Asia yet this year and appeared to have put the region on the backburner. That has all changed, according to a report by MMA Fighting, which states that the promotion will put on a card in Abu Dhabi on September 7th headlined by a lightweight title bout.
In an interview with RT Sport, ahead of this weekend’s UFC St. Petersburg card, Khabib Nurmagomedov says he expects to face Dustin Poirier in a lightweight unification bout in Abu Dhabi on this date.
The UFC has put on two events in Abu Dhabi but has not been back there since 2014. Last year there were shows in Beijing and Singapore but this is the only Asian event currently on the 2019 calendar.
Nurmagomedov (27-0) is coming off a historic title defence against Conor McGregor at UFC 229 which was slightly marred by the post fight brawl he instigated. Meanwhile Poirier claimed the interim belt after a fantastic fight with Max Holloway at UFC 236.
UFC 112 took place at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and featured two title fights. The 2010 card was headlined by middleweight champion Anderson Silva while BJ Penn defended his lightweight crown in the co-main event.
Both matches finished in lopsided decisions with Silva beating Damian Maia and Frankie Edgar dethroning Penn. The Brazilian’s performance was famously so underwhelming that Dana White refused to strap the belt around his waist.
